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Taliban roadside bomb kills 11 people, wounds dozens in Afghanistan’s Kandahar: Officials

A wounded Afghan man is brought to a hospital after a car bomb attack that targeted an intelligence unit in Ghazni on July 7, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

At least 11 civilians have lost their lives and dozens more sustained injuries as the result of a roadside bombing attack by Taliban militants in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar, officials say.

According to provincial police chief Tadin Khan, the deadly terror incident occurred around 02:00 p.m. (0930 GMT) on Monday, when a truck full of passengers hit the roadside bomb planted by the Taliban militant group.

“In the blast, 11 people were martyred and 34 others were wounded. Women and children are among the victims,” Khan said.

Afghan military spokesman Ahmad Sadiq Esa also confirmed the toll, while Kandahar governor Hayatullah Hayat raised the toll to 13, adding that the incident occurred in Darzab area in Khakrez district of the province. Hayat also blamed Taliban for the bomb attack.

No group claimed immediate responsibility and the Taliban have not commented on the incident in the southern province, which is the birthplace of the militant group.

The incident came two days after the Taliban claimed another bombing attack on a hotel in Qala-e-Naw, the capital of northwestern province of Badghis, which killed at least eight people and wounded nearly a dozen more, mostly security forces.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan under the guise of the war on terror in 2001. While the invasion ended the Taliban's rule in the country, it has failed to eliminate the militant group. Some 18 years on, Washington is seeking truce with the militants as the Taliban has boosted its campaign of violence across the country.

Washington is currently engaged in direct talks with the militants, who are against including the Kabul government in the peace process. The peace efforts have not stopped Taliban from launching attacks.

In April, the Taliban announced the beginning of its spring offensive in Afghanistan despite the ongoing negotiations with the US.


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